Survey of voters leaves unanswered questions
In the current survey at pulseofconcord.com, a series of questions relate to voting patterns.
If you have not taken it, please do.
This is what is trending at the moment:
What is the most common reason that your friends and family give for not voting?
39 percent, their vote does not matter.
18 percent, the candidates and the issue are all the same.
11 percent, cannot be bothered.
Other reasons scattered.
We have seen local elections that have literally turned on a handful of votes. Whom you pick can have a massive effect on which way your city is going.
There is the greatest ignorance on local elections, but that is exactly where voters could feel the most immediate impact. Do you want police in schools or on the streets, economic development or more parks, more housing or more jobs? Do you want cannabis available or do you want everyone to go to another city?
Do you know who was in favor of rent restrictions and who was not in the local city elections? Who was in favor of dispensaries and who was not? Who wanted a sales tax and who did not?
Some candidates felt the same, but not for all issues. Do you remember?
In local city council races, your friends and family are usually well aware of the differences in local issues?
32 percent, agree.
39 percent, disagree.
26 percent, do not know.
Relate this to the question above and again you can see that there is a good chunk of casual, low information voters out there. Who influences that group?
Looking at your circle of friends, which of the following is the biggest influence on their voting decisions?
17 percent, watching candidate forums.
15 percent, family.
14 percent, your recommendation.
15 percent, friends’ recommendations.
4 percent, threads on Claycord.
3 percent, East Bay Times editorial.
Rest scattered all over.
I found this interesting because having been to nearly all the forums in the last 10 years, I know that the number of people who attend is very low. I think the largest was 40 people, outside of campaign volunteers and cheering squads for candidates who try to pack the audience.
There are many more aspects and a few more questions on the subject at pulseofconcord.com, your independent survey for the last nine years.
Send comments to EdiBirsan@gmail.com or 510-812-8180.